Auxiliary display unit for a computer system

• US 8,004,475 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fry, Kenneth V., Kaneko, Steven T., Adan, Manolito E., Robertson, Kenneth R., Vong, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdulselam; Abbas I
• Application Number:
  US11/333,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.3, 345/3.1, 345/2.1, 345/5, 715/734, 715/733, 715/804, 709/216, 709/223, 709/232, 709/238, 710/33, 708/104
• US Class Current: 345/1.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display

Abstract

A host computer is provided with a main display unit and an auxiliary display unit. The host computer can free up screen space on the main display screen by routing certain types of display information to the auxiliary display unit for display. Display information can range from notification of events such as receipt of email, appointments, system messages, and information from separate applications. The auxiliary display panel may function as a user interface for audio, video, “push information”, MP3 player or become the hardware equivalent of a multimedia player. The auxiliary display panel may be integrated together with the host computer in the same physical structure or may be part of a standalone display unit that is wired or wirelessly coupled to the host computer.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the instructions performing the method of:

receiving first information associated with a first application launched by a personal computer;

displaying the first information on a main display unit coupled to the personal computer;

receiving second information associated with a second application launched by the personal computer;

displaying the second information on a first auxiliary display unit coupled to the personal computer and distinct from the main display unit;

receiving third information associated with a third application launched by the personal computer;

displaying the third information on a second auxiliary display unit coupled to the personal computer and distinct from the main display unit and the first auxiliary display unit; and

dynamically controlling which information the second auxiliary display unit receives by determining whether the second auxiliary display unit is capable of providing display functionality for the information.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the second application is a messaging application.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the second information includes a graphical user interface associated with the second application.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 3, further including computer-executable instructions for performing the step of receiving inputs allowing user interaction with the second application in response to the second information being displayed on said display.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 4, wherein the second application is an audio, video or multimedia player application, and said step of receiving inputs receives inputs for controlling aspects of the second application represented in the graphical user interface.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1, further including computer-executable instructions for performing the step of receiving the first information and/or the second information at the second auxiliary display unit.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1, further including computer-executable instructions for performing the step of determining whether the second auxiliary display unit has sufficient display space available to receive the first or second information.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1, further including computer-executable instructions for performing the step of determining whether a user of the second auxiliary display unit is authorized to receive the first or second information.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1, further including computer-executable instructions for performing the step of only receiving and displaying information associated with the second application at the first auxiliary display unit.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1, further including computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of receiving user authorization information from a user at an input user interface of the first auxiliary display unit, and determining whether the user is authorized to change a variable associated with the second application based on the received user authorization information.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1, further including computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of receiving user authorization information from a user at an input user interface, and determining a level of interaction with the second application for which the user is authorized based on the received user authorization information.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the second application is a messaging application and the level of interaction includes viewing messages.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:

receiving first information associated with a first application launched by a personal computer;

displaying the first information on a main display unit coupled to the personal computer;

receiving second information associated with a second application launched by the personal computer;

displaying the second information on a first auxiliary display unit coupled to the personal computer and distinct from the main display unit;

receiving third information associated with a third application launched by the personal computer;

displaying the third information on a second auxiliary display unit coupled to the personal computer and distinct from the main display unit and the first auxiliary display unit; and

dynamically controlling which information the second auxiliary display unit receives by determining whether the second auxiliary display unit is capable of providing display functionality for the information.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the second information includes a graphical user interface associated with the second application.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further including the step of receiving inputs allowing user interaction with the second application in response to the second information being displayed on said display.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the second application is an audio, video or multimedia player application, and said step of receiving inputs receives inputs for controlling aspects of the second application represented in the graphical user interface.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further including the step of determining whether the second auxiliary display unit has sufficient display space available to receive the first or second information.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further including the step of determining whether a user of the second auxiliary display unit is authorized to receive the first or second information.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further including the step of only receiving and displaying information associated with the second application at the first auxiliary display unit.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further including the steps of receiving user authorization information from a user at an input user interface of the first auxiliary display unit, and determining whether the user is authorized to change a variable associated with the second application based on the received user authorization information.